Ministers delay decision on culling badgers

Ministers have delayed a decision on whether to go ahead with a big badger cull to help control TB outbreaks in cattle after huge opposition from the public and scientific uncertainties about whether killing the protected animals would save farms from the disease.

They also want to know why the number of cows affected so far this year is nearly 20% down after years in which it rose steeply.

Ben Bradshaw, the animal health and welfare minister, said: "We are not ruling anything in or out at this stage." The RSPCA said ministers should drop the culling option, given the "phenomenal" opposition.